In an almost surreal series of events I am coming to my first burn this year after only hearing about it at the start of the year. I am sure it had something to do with being the partner of enchantedangel Although both new to BM I have been to some of the "local" festivals like Confest (which Angel has also been to) and Rainbow Serpent. Confest, which is held by a river in the middle of summer, can be a challenge unless you really like bugs! This is bigger and more out there than both of those put together though.

I am a spiritual seeker, healer, musician, handyman, engineer, intuitive massage giver, and I can even cook and clean. That should get through a week in the desert with 50,000 other burners. As I'm only visiting the States for now we are choosing to come in an RV and hoping that I haven't left it too late to book one! If anyone has any leads here please let me know.

You are definitely my kind of people. BM resonates with me like I am coming home and I hope to connect with as many of you as I can. Bring on the burn!

My name is Tiffany. I live with my fiance Victor here in Springfield, Missouri. Victor and I were watching videos of Burning Man, and would like to get involved somehow. We are not sure of how to connect with others closeby to help plan for Burning Man for next year? We are very open minded, love art and music. I've been hearing about Burning Man for years, but would really like to plan for next year

Boy. There's a guy in Springfield... He doesn't go anymore, but he was in DPW for a few years.I think you've missed the Missouri regional. Well, there are two in that area... Transformus?Go to the part of the board that's called "Regionals and Events". (or something like that....) Look on the first page or two and see if anyone's posted about any events in your area. Also go to the burningman.com page, that should have a link somewhere that says "regionals" and that will take you in a couple of clicks to the name and email of the local regional coordinator. Then you'll be on the local email.

The Lady with a Lamprey

"The powerful are exploiting people, art and ideas, and this leads to us plebes debating how to best ration ice.Man, no wonder they always win....." Lonesomebri

Hey everybody! I've been lurking around on here for a couple months but I'm feeling like its time to start participating. I've been out to the playa twice before and was absolutely amazed on both occasions. My burgin year I went out with 3 other bright new faces and it all went well. Between my first and second burn i was excited and strove to make things bigger and better. Last year thats exactly what we did with lessons learned from our first year and brought out another 3 new people. Since last year a day hasn't passed where I haven't thought about the burn or things to make or things to do or what to bring or anything/everything (apparently other people suffer from this as well so i figure its normal or i guess what might pass for normal around here). Once again I'm going for bigger and better this year and we've got another fresh 3 lined up to come along for the ride.

Just to get it out in the open, I am a virgin burner. I have been reading on eplaya and have read mixed reviews on how people feel about first timers ~ makes sense, in fact I am probably in way over my head, but I am not blind as to what to expect. I know it will be hard, hot, exhausting and overwhelming physically, emotionally and mentally. It's an experince I NEED for myselfI first heard of Burning Man through a boyfriend I had. His sister and her boyfriend went. They said it was a shock to their soul. I saw pictures of dust storms, girls dressed as unicorns, naked people on bikes and people, vehicles and art that looked like they came out of a Dr. Suess world. I was curious. Intrigued. CaptivatedI went home, went to bed, and I remember dreaming that I was on that desert. Happy. Free. Fearless. I woke up to my life. My life isn't bad, but it surely isn't what it should be. That is my fault based on choices I have been faced with and made. As a kid, I was known as afree spirit. No one could tame me. As an adult, I was tamed... no, not tamed, trapped. I became a shell of who I once was. Now, I am not a person of religion or faith, maybe spirituality and belief in reason, and I believe I was supposed to hear about this experience - maybe that sounds stupid, but I feel such a liberating feeling when I read and read and read about this upcoming event. I dream of it. I think about it non-stop - at home, at work, at the store, in my car. EVERYTHING some how triggers thoughts of what I might need, what I might encounter and how to handle it. Preparing myself mentally to be out of my element and into a world that will reshape me to the person I know I can be, because I want to be. It is a life changing event that I haven't even attended yet, and my life has been changed. I look forward to meeting, greeting, living and laughing, exploring, experiencing, growing and changing and transforming my life in a desert. A glimpse of time, that almost, just almost seems like a mirage.

i am capable of greatness despite weariness and pain. i have been bruised, beaten, and battered but NOT broken. the person in the mirror is my biggest competition but also my greatest creation. i must mold myself to be stronger, better, hungry for life.

i've known for years about the existence of burning manfor some reason, this year is my year. i don't know why i feel it so strongly, but i do. it's like i'm obsessed with this. like i have to be there.

like i'm meant to be there

i can't wait. i'm excited. i'm scared. i'm resolved.....

what i hope to encounter, amid the endless rhythmic throbbing of dj beats, and vastly chaotic indulgence, is some quiet corner of wide open space where i can be alone, surrounded by people who, likewise, need some quiet corner of wide open space in order to feel free

Howdy everyone! Sunny D here from LA. This year will be my second year on the playa, and I'm oh so grateful for that! I was an overly prepared virgin last year thanks to everyone's input here on eplaya and my campmates!

I have an extra ticket, but haven't quite figured out who will be coming with me, or who I will be camping with. I'm interested in joining a theme camp. I'm still browsing, checking out what would be a great fit for me and vice versa. I'd really like to be more hands on- on a larger scale. I wonder if there's a all girl-troupe camp somewhere

Hi all. I'm Marissa. I've been wistfully lurking eplaya off and on for a couple of years, but it looks like I might actually make it to the Burn next year. De-lurk! 2013 is far away, but I figured I should introduce myself anyway.

Long time listener, first time caller.... Wait, that's not right, is it?

I decided to finally step out of the shadows since suddenly I'm supposed to leave for the desert in two months, and have way too many of the "little" things left. You know, that monkey hut we've been talking about for 2 years and finally should follow through on, deciding if I should take the dry ice plunge (not literally...), wondering if my camp mates may finally be responsible enough not to throw turkey chili in the evap pond (probably not). Yeah, the little things.

Chances are good I'm younger than you, and maybe even your kids, so forgive my naivete and general disregard for consequences.

I'm a lucky kid in that the amazing-beyond-words Mojo is my (playa) momma. She keeps all of us kids in check and out of too much trouble, and we try to do the same for her. I've been a greeter since my first burn, and recently also have been putting in some hours at HQ doing whatever they throw at me in exchange for diet Dr. Peppers and an increased sense of superiority over other young burners...

Anyway, hello to you. Apologies in advance for not being able to keep up with your snark and wit! I'll try my best.

Hello playa folks. My name is John Deco. San Francisco native and current Berkeley resident. Looking forward to returning to the playa this summer 2012 after a few years away. My first year was Green Man 2007, which led to some profound life changes (in a good way). I also participated in 2008 and 2009. cheers, John

grEEn EyEd bEllA wrote:... As a kid, I was known as a free spirit. No one could tame me. As an adult, I was tamed... no, not tamed, trapped. I became a shell of who I once was.

Welcome to the beginning of your burn. Those shells burn off and leave a nice shine, like stepping out of old cloths.See ya in the dust.

Thanks Knowmad, I am stoked. A shine could do me some good, even covered in a little dust ~ A little dust goes a long way.

i am capable of greatness despite weariness and pain. i have been bruised, beaten, and battered but NOT broken. the person in the mirror is my biggest competition but also my greatest creation. i must mold myself to be stronger, better, hungry for life.

You can call me kevin. Or you can call me goodfornothing. I don't really care as long as I know it's me you're calling. I'm living in Canada, and I've been to a few Toronto area burner events, like Cold Compress and UndieComp, since Toronto is only a few hours from home. I've been to Santarchy and Bunnarchy, and occasionally visit area hackerspaces including Site 3, Hacklab.to, KwartzLab and Thinkhaus. I had planned to go to Burning Man last year, but it didn't work out, so I went to Wasteland Weekend instead. I probably won't bring the leather Mad Max outfit this year, but I'll have to see what else I can come up with. I'm a long time science fiction convention volunteer (I don't remember what it was like to go to a convention without being a volunteer) and have followed Worldcons since 2003, as well as being the AV/Tech head and acting Logistics head for SFContario and being on the permanent tech crew for Anime North and other local conventions. At work, I'm an admin on a Windows network, in a place where management is alergic to Linux, and I fix legacy hardware when someone desperately needs it after forgetting it was there for a decade. I fix my own cars, sometimes using tin cans and coffee maker parts. I collect and occasionally write zines. I've been across northern Canada and parts of South America, and I've learned to sleep while flying in a small plane held together with structural duct tape. I work in the background to make things go off smoothly and leave the drama to others. I can dance badly but enthusiastically to just about anything.

howdy all from n. fl. RETIRED CHIPPENDALE DANCER!!! gorgeous bod. don't look a day over my age! (67). well... enough b.s retired from medical field, love almost anything outdoors! been usually described as "nice guy" willing to help almost anyone. very environmentally based! avg.? on everything else. hope the ladies don't throw rocks, a hug would be nicer. usually more of a loner, and kind of shy. you might have to approach me. decided to do some drastic changes with my life, and this is the start. usually not a joiner, but ask and i will usually jump right in! i can't wait!! will be coming by myself, so come on over and have some intelligent? conversation with a redneck? billy bob p.s. any burners around tallahassee fl?

Hi all, my name is Scotland and I'm from Seattle! This will be my first burn on the playa but I have been apart of the community for a long time working on art projects and attending regional events. I decided to stop lurking and be a little more vocal! I am looking forward to finally actually making out to the Playa this year as in the past I just never had the opportunity to make it down. This year I said no I have to go despite my theme camp not being able to make it due to a lack of tickets. I have all my gear and weither I camp by myself or find another group I am deeply looking forward to going.

That being said if any camps from Seattle are looking for people to add to their camp be it theme camp or just a group camping together I am totally interested in learning about your camp. I'm a I paint, weld, solder, craft and would be happy to throw down when it comes to contributing in a theme camp.